News

Why a Day Pitney Lawyer Voted to Retire Harvard Law School's Shield

Publisher: The American Lawyer

March 16, 2016

Jim Bowers was featured in a Q&A, "Why a Day Pitney Lawyer Voted to Retire Harvard Law School's Shield, " in American Lawyer. Bowers, an alum of Harvard Law School and member of the Executive Committee of the Harvard Law School Association, was part of a committee which recommended that Harvard Law School's shield – which was modeled on the family crest of an 18th century slaveholder and initial benefactor of the Law School — should be changed. "My personal view is if the shield had not been retired it would continue to be a divisive issue that would inhibit a true discussion of our history. This was baggage that had to be gotten out of the way for us to continue to engage in a good, spirited dialogue about what the school is and what its values are," said Bowers.